The etnies team (Simon Chamberlain, Stian Solberg, Joe Sexton and Markku Koski) tour the land of the rising sun with an escort from the Transworld Japan editor and photographer to capture an 8 page exclusive. Their mission - To session a variety of street rails, take some deep powder turns, explore the Japanese trees and compete in the slope contest at Joetsu Kokusai resort.

Part 1 February, 2008

After 15 hours of traveling, the 32 team headed straight to Nagano - just another minor 5 hours of driving? First pit stop dinner. (Simon, Stian and Joe)

Enjoying the typical bento box.

Markku and Stian stoked to go shred!

Joe and Simmi getting ready to send’er.

Markku and Stian didn’t want to steal the show in the streets, so we decided to split the groups and let Simon and Joe slaughter the streets of Nagano. Here’s Marrku and Stian getting ready to venture in the Deep White of Akakura Kanko resort.

Jet lag didn’t have any play on our first day. Stian, Markku and TK getting hyped!

It pretty much didn’t let up and mother nature blessed us with her finest. Here was Stian’s first run. Not too bad, right?

Stian, before.

Here’s Stian after. Wheeee-hooooo!

Markku before - I swear he’s in there somewhere.

Markku after..... :)

Markku givin’er as well. As you can see from the array of powder being spit out, the snow was pretty light to say the least.

Take 32... Markku lays one out for the team.

Markku dropping some Pirrow-rines.

I think these two had one of the best days ever. Stian’s first taste of Japan’s finest.

And he’s off. Joe pretty much slaughtered this rail. Nose press.

Meanwhile Joe and Simon were getting ready to hit this kinked rail. Check out Reho’s rig on the drop in.

Joe testing out the custom drop in.

Sexton at his finest. Front board with such finess.

Simon sendin’er during a night session.

Stay tuned for Part 2 - Next stop Joetsu Kokusai resort for the Slope contest.